Dunn developing blueprint for Jamaica’s cannabis sector

The Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), the Hon. Audley Shaw has established a Cannabis Industry Development Taskforce, chaired by the Hon. Norman Dunn, Minister of State, MIIC, with the inaugural meeting held yesterday June 17.
The Taskforce has been established to determine strategies critical to enhancing growth and development of the local cannabis industry and build on the gains made in the industry to date. Minister Dunn mandated the taskforce to “work together to shape the future developmental path for cannabis by providing strategic and technical guidance, to ultimately ensure that existing and potential investors in the industry can reap the rewards which exist across the medicinal cannabis value chain.”
The task force is a multisectoral stakeholder group including representatives of public sector, private sector and academia. The Taskforce is appointed for an initial period of two (2) years and will focus on improvements to the legislative framework, business and institutional environment, product development, public education, capacity building, training, investment and export promotion as well as economic inclusion of traditional and small-scale farmers the protection of Intellectual Property rights.
Further the Minister of State added “The Ministry recognizes that in order for the industry to truly grow, we must urgently create the necessary policy and regulatory framework in conjunction with all our relevant stakeholders to provide clear guidelines for the success of the industry.”
The state minister charged the members to partner with the Ministry to establish a safe, robust and quality driven industry which will further propel brand Jamaica on
the global stage. And that he looks forward to their continued support as we propel our Cannabis Industry to new heights and unparalleled success.

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